Make Your Body 10 Years Younger

There's no doubt that the right jeans, the latest hairstyle, and the newest digital accessories can make you look 10 years younger (and that's without the plastic surgeon). But there's something else that can make you a decade younger on the inside: A treadmill. Or a bike. Or just a good pair of sneakers. In one study, the most physically active folks showed signs -- within their cells -- of being 10 years younger than their less active peers.

How does that work? Physical activity keeps your telomeres longer. Your telo-what? Telomeres are like the plastic tips on shoelaces. In your body, they cap the ends of the DNA strands (chromosomes) in all of your cells. Every time a cell reproduces, the telomeres get a little shorter. Over time, your telomeres can shorten to the point where cells stop regenerating and can't replenish your body. The result: accelerated aging. And shortened telomeres also leave your chromosomes vulnerable to the kind of damage that can trigger diseases such as cancer.

Staying active isn't the only thing you can do to keep your telomeres young. Find ways to subdue your stress. The telomeres of people who feel more stressed are almost 50% shorter than those in people who say they're more chilled out. Your telomeres will also love you for keeping your blood pressure under control, not smoking, and staying at an ideal weight.